Our collection

Together these objects tell the story of our world—from the rise of the Indus Valley civilisation over 3,000 years ago to the microchips powering our connected planet today.

The Science Museum Group has begun an ambitious project to transform how we care for and share our internationally significant collection with the world. This once-in-a-generation opportunity includes investing in a new collection management facility at the National Collections Centre in Wiltshire.

About the collection

Our collection traces its origin back to the 1851 Great Exhibition. Among the 7.3 million items we now care for there are:

140,000 medical items, including the long-term loan of the Wellcome Collection

38,000 items relating to railway locomotives, technology and railway life

Our ambitious project has created opportunities to review the items we hold, enhance our records and digitise a vast part of the collection for the public and researchers to explore on our collection website.

From 2023, the public, researchers and school groups will be able to access the Science Museum Group object collection at the National Collections Centre in Wiltshire. This new facility will become the home for over 80% of our collection.

Details on how to arrange access will be published closer to the time.

Our collection research facilities at the Science and Industry Museum, National Science and Media Museum, and the National Railway Museum will continue to be accessible.